Hours 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Fri. & Sat. till 8 p.m.
For more information contact: Shane Rhinewald, The Strong, srhinewald@museumofplay.org;
Rochester, NY–The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and The Strong National Museum of Play have teamed up for the first time to present Let’s Play: A Winter Celebrationon Saturday, December 10.
Families are invited from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for musical performances throughout the museum featuring RPO musicians as well as student groups, an instrument petting zoo, a musical story time, and music-related arts & crafts. All are included in the regular museum admission: $19 (ages 2 and over); free for those under 2 and members.
“We’re so excited to have such an amazing partner and host as The Strong National Museum of Play for this truly unique, family event,” says RPO VP of Education Barbara Brown. “Best of all is the chance to share the ‘stage’ with young talent right here in our community!”
The Strong (1 Manhattan Square Dr.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the following schedule of musical performances:
· 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Instrument Petting Zoo, Percussion & Strings (Play Lab)
· 11 a.m.: School #19’s Strings for Success (Atrium)
· 11:30 a.m.: Musical Story Time with Herb Smith (Storybook Theatre)
· Noon: ROCmusic (Atrium)
· 12:30 p.m.: Vertex Saxophone Quartet (Metro Retro)
· 1 p.m.: School of the Arts (SOTA) Choir, caroling throughout the museum
· 1:30 p.m.: Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) Trumpet Ensemble (Metro Retro)
· 1:30 p.m.: RPO Low Brass Quartet (Storybook Theater)
· 2–4 p.m.: Instrument Petting Zoo, Percussion (Play Lab)
· 2 p.m.: RPO String Quartet (Atrium)
· 3 p.m.: RPO Brass Quintet (Atrium)
“Music and play go hand-in-hand, and we’re honored to join with the renowned Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra to bring this winter celebration to our guests,” says Cathy DeBellis, senior director of public programs. “The museum will truly be alive with the sounds of the season!”
ABOUT THE STRONG: The Strong National Museum of Play is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the history and exploration of play. It is home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play and houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play.
ABOUT THE RPO: The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its origins in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Music Director Andreas Delfs joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, Mark Elder, Ward Stare, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, now in his 29th season, has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO. The RPO reaches more than 15,000 youth through its specific education programs.